Acts 26:11

"And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues,. strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them,. persecuted them even unto foreign cities"And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues" Not that Christians were members of the synagogue, but Christians often tried to preach to the Jews during the synagogue service (Acts 6:9). The synagogue became the place where punishment was administered. "The synagogue punishment of whipping will be meant here" (Stott p. 371). The local synagogue would also know which Jews had become Christians. "I strove to make them blaspheme" "To make them recant by blaspheming Christ' (Rieu). "To make them renounce their faith" (NEB). Paul used strong-arm tactics and he attempted to make Christians curse Christ and deny Him. The word strove suggests that Paul put all his effort into this task, but that he was not always successful. "Being exceedingly mad against them" "Mad rage" (Gasped) (Acts 9:1). Paul was as upset with Christians as the Jews were presently upset with him. Paul was not content to merely persecute Christians in Jerusalem or rid Palestine of all Christians, rather he was out to destroy the whole movement. "I persecuted them even unto foreign cities" Since the word cities is in the plural in the above verse, it appears that Paul had planned to persecute Christians in other cities besides Damascus and may have already visited other foreign cities prior to his trip to Damascus.